Mail-catcher



D. W. DALLAS.

- MAIL CATCHER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. I917.

51,3 1 0,065, Patented July 15, 1919.

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MAIL-GATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed. November 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,797.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN W. DALLAS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing near West Point, Georgia, but actually in the county of Chambers and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for catching mail bags from moving trains and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will grip and hold the bag between two jaws so there is no danger of a bag being dropped after once being caught.

Another object of the invention is to operate the jaws so as to close the same by the ba itself.

inother object is to arrange the jaws on a pivoted member, so that the same, with the bag, can be swung into the car to remove the bag.

Another object is to provide locking means for holding the jaws locked on the bag.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the catcher swung from a car ready to catch the bag.

Fig. 2 is a front view, with the catcher swungfrom the car.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In these drawings, the mail car is shown at 1 and the catching member at 2. Said member consists of a body part 3 having an opening 4 at one end, through which passes a rod 5 which is secured to the doorway of the mail car. 6 is a brace secured to the member 3 by an eye bolt 7 and having its other end secured to the door by a bolt 8. Said member 3 is provided with a longitudinal groove 9 and a vertical cut out portion 10 and a jaw 11 is pivoted in said out out portion by means of the pin 12 pivoted to near its inner end.

the middle of the jaw and operating in a hole 13 in the member. This cut out portion provides an angularly extending portion 10, the inner face of which is provided wlth alongitudinal horizontal groove 11,

which receives one end of thejaw 11.

the jaw away from the bottom of the recess.

Said jaw. is provided with a shoulder 17 '18 is the outer jaw pivoted at 19 to the member and having its end projecting beyond the pivot and provided with a pin 20 to receive the hooked end of a coil spring 21. The free end of this pivoted jaw extends into the groove 11 when the jaw is in a closed position, and prevents undue movement of the jaw. A coil spring 21 is located in the groove 9, the other end of said spring being held in said groove by a pin 21; said jaw 18 having its end curved on one side to form an engaging part for the shoulder 17 so that when the jaw 18 is raised, its end will engage the shoulder 17 on the jaw 11 and be held in this raised position against the tension of the spring 21.

The engaging faces of the two jaws are corrugated as shown, the better to grip the bag. A spring catch 22 is provided at the end of the member 3 to engage the end of the jaw 18 when the same is closed to hold it in closed position. The groove 9 is covered by a plate 23 secured to the member.

It will be seen that when the catching member is swung outwardly the jaw 11 will be struck by the mail bag, which is to be supported on the well known hangers located along the track, and said bag will cause the jaw 11 to move inwardly against the springs, thus releasing the end of the jaw 18 from the shoulder 17, so as to permit the spring 21 to close the jaw 18. Thus, the bag will be caught by the two jaws and securely held thereby. The latch 22 will prevent any movement of the jaw 18. After the bag is caught the catching member is swung into the car, the jaw 18 opened and the bag removed.

I do not wish to be limited to the use of the mail catcher on a mail car, as this catcher may be used along the track' at the stations and made to receive the bags from the car. This may be done by suspending the bags from rods secured to the car, so that the bag will come in contact with the .jaw 11.

It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mail bag. catcher comprising a body part having an opening therein, a bodily,

movable jaw, a pin pivotally. connected with said jaw and having sliding movement in said opening, springs connecting said jaw to said body part, a second jaw pivoted to said body part, and means on the first-named jaw for normally retaining the second jaw in an open position. a i

2. A mail bag catcher comprising a body part, a jaw slidable as a whole connected thereto, said jaw moving rearwardly upon impact of a mail sack, a shoulder on said jaw adjacent one of its ends, a second jaw pivoted to said body part in front of the first named jaw, said pivoted jaw having a part thereof extending beyond its pivot and engaging said shoulder on the slidable jaw when the jaws are in an open position, and means for closing said pivoted jaw when a mail bag strikes and moves the first named j aw away from the pivoted aw so that the notch in the slidable jaw is carried away from the pivoted jaw to permit said pivoted jaw to swing and close.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUN CAN W. DALLAS.

Witnesses:

D. H. DARDEN, A. M. ENNIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

